During the years I lived in Afghanistan, alongside my work in photography, videography, and social activities, I was also actively involved and deeply interested in humanitarian and international projects.
One of the key local structures in Herat was the Wakil-e-Mahalla (Neighborhood Representative) system. A Wakil-e-Mahalla is an official, community-elected local representative who served as a vital link between the public and government institutions. They played a critical role in facilitating communication, organizing programs, and encouraging public participation in various initiatives.
In the fight against polio, which had not been fully eradicated in Afghanistan by 2025—with one new case reported that year—several international and national organizations were involved. The campaigns were supported and implemented by World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Afghan Ministry of Public Health.
Through collaboration with local Wakils and the staff at Herat Regional Hospital—especially Dr. Soroush—and after receiving proper training with support from the Herat Directorate of Public Health, I took part in several polio campaigns both as a vaccinator and in monitoring roles.
It was a meaningful experience for me, as I was able to contribute directly to the health of children and the broader effort to eradicate this dangerous disease.
Before each campaign, senior officials coordinated with local religious leaders and mosque imams to ensure public safety and community cooperation. These figures then used mosque loudspeakers to inform families and encourage parents to vaccinate their children. This strong community coordination played a key role in the success and safety of the vaccination teams.
Working on polio campaigns in Afghanistan always came with serious risks. We only traveled to assigned areas with prior coordination through local representatives and security officials, as many regions—especially remote areas or those under the control of armed opposition groups—were inaccessible due to insecurity.
In some communities, due to extremist beliefs, ignorance, or lack of awareness, people believed the polio vaccine was haram (forbidden). They thought it was part of a foreign conspiracy to harm Muslim children. These misconceptions made our work extremely dangerous.
In several provinces, some of our fellow vaccinators were directly targeted and killed by gunfire while carrying out their duties. Despite these dangers, we continued to work with dedication, knowing our goal was to save children’s lives and help eradicate a devastating disease.
We also had families waiting and hoping for our safe return. But every time we entered a new area, we never knew whether we’d come back safely. The risk of being captured or attacked by the Taliban or other armed groups was always present.